(Newser)
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Hollywood is pressing the Federal Communications to allow studios to block digital video recorders from copying high-definition films before they're released to DVD, Ars Technica reports. In return, the studios promise to shorten the time it takes movies to get from theater to home TVs. The feds would need to waive rules barring cable providers from transmitting digital codes that block such copying.

The petitioners have pledged they’d only block recording before their movies hit video stores; it can't hurt, Ars notes, that the group’s expedited hearing might be partly attributable to the hiring of a former FCC executive as attorney. Resistance is expected from free-speech groups.